David Hykes & The Harmonic Choir - Current Circulation (1984)

Time for something droning and meditative in the wake of Monday's frenetic electronica.  David Hykes was born in New Mexico in 1953, and formed the Harmonic Choir in 1975 to explore overtone singing.  This was their second album, mostly recorded in St Paul's Chapel at Columbia University, with the brief solo opening track coming from a concert at the Chapel of St John The Divine, also in NYC a few months earlier.

Current Circulation itself is an epic 32-minute, six part work that takes influences from Tibetan Buddhist chant and Mongolian hoomi singing by holding root notes, adding harmonics, and attempting both in one voice and more.  The technical mastery of this type of vocal work speaks for itself, and you can either marvel at the accomplishments of working this into an intricate choral setting, or just let your mind drift in the gradually shifting clouds of pure sound.

link
pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG: Harmonic Meetings